Abstract
The human visual system prioritizes processing of novel information, leading to faster detection of novel stimuli. Novelty facilitates conflict resolution through the enhanced early perceptual processing. However, the role of novel information processing during the conflict-related response selection and inhibition remains unclear. Here, we used a face-gender classification version of the Simon task and manipulated task-difficulty and novelty of task-relevant information. The novel quality of stimuli was made task-irrelevant, and an in-group bias was tightly controlled by manipulation of a gender of picture stimuli. We found that the in-group bias modulated the role of novelty in executive control. Novel opposite-sex stimuli facilitated response inhibition only when the task was not demanding. By contrast, novelty enhanced response selection irrespective of the in-group factor when task-difficulty was increased. These findings support the in-group bias mechanism of visual processing, in cases when attentional resources are not limited by a demanding task. The results are further discussed along the lines of the attentional load theory and neural mechanisms of response-inhibition and locomotor activity. In conclusion, our data showed that processing of novel information may enhance executive control through facilitated response selection and inhibition.
Highlights
Flexible behavioral control is an ability to track and respond to salient changes in a dynamic environment
The current study investigated the influence of novelty on the response selection and inhibition during a Simon task
We found that novel male stimuli facilitated cognitive control by reducing the interference effect (F(1, 19) = 2.59, p > 0.1, Z2p = 0.120) relative to the familiar male pictures (F(1, 19) = 27.67, p < 0.001, Z2p = 0.593)
Summary
Flexible behavioral control is an ability to track and respond to salient changes in a dynamic environment. Humans rapidly detect and evaluate novel stimuli, irrespective of its taskrelevance [1,2,3,4]. Processing of novelty seems to have a certain priority in the brain; novel information attracts attention and elicits an orienting reflex [1, 2]. In line with this hypothesis, evidence suggests that novelty facilitates early visual processing and cognitive control [3, 4]. In a modified Stroop task, Krebs and colleagues [3] showed that novel information.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have